Patchy weather and cautious spending limit late-month trading

After decent growth in the first fortnight of the month, average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday 26 September were down by 0.9% from the equivalent period in 2025. The following seven days, to Saturday 3 October, brought a year-on-year drop of 1.1%. 

The latest figures indicate that millions of consumers remain cautious about their spending amid concerns over rising costs. Sales in the second half of last month may also have been softened by patchy weather in some parts of the country, which limited outdoor drinking occasions.

The Daily Drinks Tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, shows cider has been the standout category of recent months. Its sales rose year-on-year by 4.6% and 3.6% in the weeks to 26 September and 3 October respectively.

It was a broadly flat fortnight for beer (down 0.8% and 1.4%) and soft drinks (down 0.3% and up 0.2%). Wine (down 9.5% and 6.9%) struggled for sales, which suggests some drinkers have been migrating to longer serves like cider.  

Continuing a long-term pattern in the Daily Drinks Tracker, the spirits category saw the sharpest year-on-year decline in trading, which fell by 21.6% and 17.4% in the two-week period. It is partly the result of moderation in alcohol consumption as well as financial pressure on consumers. 

There were pockets of growth across mid to late September, especially on warmer days. International football fixtures brought some opportunities for pubs and sports bars, but the absence of Premier League games was a negative. End-of-month paydays lifted trading towards the end of the period, with sales up by between 3.0% and 9.4% from Wednesday 30 September to Friday 2 October. 

Rachel Weller, NIQ’s commercial lead, UK & Ireland, said: “After a strong start to September, a flat fortnight will have been a disappointment to pubs, bars and suppliers. Spirits sales continue to be a particular concern, and with so many consumers feeling the pinch on costs, all On-Premise businesses will need to stay laser-focused on delivering value and consistently excellent experiences. As we move into the crucial final quarter, fingers are crossed that people will loosen their spending in the run-in to Christmas.”